Mainland prevailed with a 49-42 victory in the battle of Class 6A heavyweights in a regional quarterfinal when Lake Gibson wide receiver Eric Carter caught the apparent tying touchdown pass with 1:14 to play. But it was ruled incomplete by the officials, sealing the comeback win for the Buccaneers.

"I caught it,'' said a tearful Carter after Lake Gibson turned the ball over on downs with 1:04 left one play after the incompletion was whistled.

"I caught it with one hand,'' said Carter, who made several spectacular catches including another spinning one-hander and finished with eight catches for 88 yards and three touchdowns.

Lake Gibson coach Keith DeMyer said, "I wasn't a happy camper. But they're not going to change their mind. I learned that a long time ago.''

Seventh-ranked Lake Gibson lost for the first time this season, finishing the season at 10-1 in front of 1,200 fans at Virgil Ramage Stadium.

"You're supposed to win when you score 42 points,'' DeMyer said. "But you're not supposed to give up 49.''

Mainland (8-3) advanced to the regional semifinals on Friday night at Winter Haven, which defeated New Smyrna Beach 24-20.

"I told these guys that they would fight until the last minute, and that's what happened,'' Mainland coach Scott Wilson said.''

Behind the triple-threat capability of Mainland senior quarterback Cameron Hadley, the Buccaneers scored on a 68-yard pass on the first play of the game and jumped to a 21-7 lead less than 4 minutes from the game's kickoff.

But Lake Gibson roared back, outscoring Mainland 35-7 to take a 42-28 lead with 10:34 left to play.

After going scoreless and without a first down in the third quarter, Hadley led the Buccaneers back with three touchdown tosses to David White — two 35-yarders and then a 25-yarder with 2:57 left that produced the final margin.

Hadley completed 16 of 35 passes for 387 yards and five touchdowns, returned a punt 67 yards for a touchdown, and returned an interception 77 yards for a touchdown in the closing minutes that was called back by pass interference.

"He's an unbelievable football player,'' Wilson said. "He's dangerous all over the field.''

Hadley, who hasn't committed to a college, was equally dangerous running the ball, but Lake Gibson changed its defense to keep him in the pocket after he raced off a 36-yard gain on his first carry of the game.

"He's the real deal,'' DeMyer said. "We went to try to stop him (from running) and got hurt in the secondary,'' DeMyer said.